Hunter Biden’s Federal Gun Trial Enters Its Third Day with Ex-Partners Testifying on Addiction to Crack Cocaine.
WILMINGTON, Del., June 5—The trial of Hunter Biden, son of US President Joe Biden, entered its third day as prosecutors called his ex-wife and ex-girlfriend to testify about his alleged addiction to crack cocaine. Prosecutors are focusing on Mr. Biden’s large cash withdrawals in the year of the gun purchase, as well as numerous texts, photos, and videos that allegedly show his use of crack cocaine before and after the gun purchase on October 18, 2018. By including testimonies from his ex-partners, prosecutors aim to prove that Mr. Biden knowingly lied on his gun application form when he stated that he was not a drug addict.
His defense attorneys argue that the hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash withdrawals in 2018 were for alcohol and rehab services.
While on the stand, both Mr. Biden’s ex-wife, Kathleen Buhle, and his ex-girlfriend, Zoe Kestan, testified that he was using alcohol and crack cocaine simultaneously during this time.
Hunter Biden is facing three felony charges from the 2018 firearm purchase. Authorities accuse him of lying to the federally licensed gun store by illegally claiming on his application that he was not a drug user at the time, and then unlawfully possessing the gun for eleven days.
Ms. Buhle, who now works as a nonprofit CEO in Washington, testified that her marriage with Mr. Biden began dissolving after she discovered a crack pipe on their side porch on July 3, 2015. He moved out shortly afterward, but they separated following allegations of infidelity.
She expressed concern for his well-being during this time, noting that the Navy had previously kicked him out due to cocaine use. Ms. Buhle stated that Mr. Biden was “not himself” during this period but continued functioning when working or meeting with friends and family members, leading many people around him not to notice his intoxication.
Ms. Kestan, who was granted immunity to testify, also alleged that she watched Mr. Biden arrange meetups with various drug dealers and claimed to have obtained cash from an ATM for him to purchase crack cocaine. She said he would buy ping-pong ball-sized pieces of crack at a time but would break off small pieces to smoke.
Ms. Kestan further alleged that Mr. Biden attempted to self-medicate his addiction using kambo, a South American frog venom traditionally used for purging and cleansing rituals. However, this treatment failed to alleviate his symptoms. She also claimed to have helped him learn how to cook powder cocaine into crack through internet research.
His defense attorneys argue that Mr. Biden genuinely believed he was no longer addicted to crack cocaine on the day of the gun purchase and therefore could not have knowingly lied when he checked the “no” box on the form. They assert that the withdrawals were either for liquor store purchases or rehab and sobriety services.
While Mr. Biden made three payments in August 2018 for rehab and sobriety services—including one for $2,000, another for $2,500, and a third for $4,000—prosecutors argue that they have the receipts and that he made these payments with a debit card.
During cross-examination, prosecutors questioned FBI Special Agent Erika Jensen, who was assigned to Mr. Biden’s case, about whether drug dealers accept credit cards. They implied that since liquor store purchases were made with a Visa card, the cash withdrawals must have been used for something else.
While President Joe Biden has not attended the trial in person, First Lady Jill Biden has been present each day.
Hunter Biden faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted in the federal gun case. However, first-time offenders typically receive less than the maximum sentence, and it remains unclear if the judge will impose any prison time.